Guzman family further questions investigation

Calls from family members of a Fort Bragg man whose body was recovered from an area north of Wesport have prompted further reporting on the circumstances of his death. His family questions the preliminary determination by Sheriff's investigators that Patrick Guzman, 70, of Fort Bragg, may have died as a result of a suicide attempt. A week after his car was found running north of Westport on Labor Day, Sept. 2, a handgun found in the area led to the discovery of his body at the bottom of an oceanside cliff.

Daughter Tracy Guzman questions the investigation's protocol and preliminary determination. She said she believes her father's death was homicide.

Sheriff's Capt. Greg Van Patten said Tuesday that the coroner's investigation is still open in regards to cause of death, which has not been officially classified as suicide, homicide or accidental.

He said results of a blood alcohol and toxicology test has yet to be received from a Department of Justice laboratory, which will give investigators a better, but not absolute, idea as to the cause of death.

Tracy said that when family members arrived at Guzman's home after his car had been found, they found it had been ransacked, his computer, printer, welder and three guns missing. Capt. Van Patten said he was not aware that the home had been ransacked or burglarized. He said an investigator will respond and new leads will be followed accordingly.

While it was originally thought that Guzman's car had been towed from the location, Tracy disclosed that she had driven it back to Fort Bragg Sunday, Sept. 8., the same day Guzman's body was found.

Background

Van Patten previously confirmed a local rumor that Guzman's body was found with a gunshot wound to the ribcage.

Found at the scene was an unusual handgun, a Taurus five-shot revolver, which can fire 45-caliber bullets, as well as 410-gauge shotgun rounds. Even more unusual was that the chambers were loaded with three 45-caliber bullets and two shotgun rounds, one of which had been fired.

Van Patten said tests are pending to determine if the gun was fired by Guzman. Asked if a second person could have been at the scene, he said, "We have nothing to suggest a second person was there."

No note was located at the scene near Highway 1 mile marker 83.3 , where Guzman's car was found running on Sept. 2 by a passing motorist.

Van Patten also said autopsy results suggest that the gunshot may not have ended his life, but instead, the fall down the steep, rocky bank.

Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at the Sheriff's tip line 234 2100.